Twin rod festoon roll

Abstract

A festoon assembly, system or arrangement includes at least one festoon roll having first and second opposite sides movably mounted to a respective support member. A linear bearing having an opening at least partially receiving therein a respective support member is arranged on at least one of the first and second sides. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A festoon assembly comprising:
 at least one festoon roll having first and second opposite sides movably mounted to a respective support member; and   a linear bearing having an opening at least partially receiving therein a respective support member arranged on at least one of the first and second sides.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the festoon assembly is a tire manufacturing festoon assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the festoon roll comprises plural festoon rolls. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate at least one tire sidewall material strip. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate plural side by side tire sidewall material strips. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the linear bearing having an opening receiving therein a respective support member is arranged on each of the first and second sides. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each respective support member comprises one of:
 a metal rod;   a steel rod;   a solid material rod.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lift structure structured and arranged to lift the at least one festoon roll. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the lift structure comprises at least one shock absorber or damper structured and arranged to contact at least one of:
 an element movable with the at least one festoon roll; and   a portion of the linear bearing.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the lift structure comprises at least one carrier block having a main opening structured and arranged to receive therein the respective support member. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lift table structured and arranged to lift the at least one festoon roll to at least one position:
 above a plane defined by plural drive rolls; and   below a plane defined by plural drive rolls.   
     
     
         12 . A festoon assembly comprising:
 plural festoon rolls each having first and second opposite sides;   plural support members;   the first side of each festoon roll being movably mounted to a respective support member via a linear bearing; and   each linear bearing comprising:
 a bearing block; and 
 an opening receiving therein the respective support member. 
   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the festoon assembly is a tire manufacturing festoon assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each festoon roll is mounted to two support members and is vertically movable independent of movement of other festoon rolls. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate at least one tire sidewall material strip. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate plural side by side tire sidewall material strips. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each respective support member comprises one of:
 a metal member having a circular cross-section; and   a solid steel rod.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lift structure structured and arranged to lift the plural festoon rolls at the same time and comprising at least one of:
 plural shock absorbers or dampers; and   plural carrier blocks each having a main opening structured and arranged to receive therein the respective support member.   
     
     
         19 . A method of accumulating strip material using the festoon assembly of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 lifting the at least one festoon roll to a position that allows the strip material to pass beneath the festoon roll and above at least one drive roll;   allowing the at least one festoon roll to move under the force of gravity to a position below the at least one drive roll.   
     
     
         20 . A method of making a festoon assembly comprising:
 movably mounting first and second opposite sides of at least one festoon roll via first and second linear bearings having an opening adapted to at least partially receive therein a respective support member.